Blog

Your website may be visually striking, filled with valuable content, and capable of attracting an audience, but is it inclusive and accessible to everyone who might visit it? Despite the critical importance of digital accessibility, there is a fair amount of work to be done before truly accessible websites are embraced as the status quo, so it’s important to recognize where your own site may need improvements. While there are many small details that can make this process feel overwhelming, grouping accessibility requirements according to the principles of POUR can help provide clarity. We explore what each of these principles represent and how they can help expand your audience.

One scholarship program alone can’t erase the systemic barriers faced by aspiring designers who identify as Black, Indigenous or as a person of color, but through the Manitoba Studio Fund, we’re addressing the issue head-on. In collaboration with Design Professionals of Canada and six other Manitoba-based design studios, the fund was established four years ago and has since awarded $9,000 to eight student recipients. We take a deeper look at the goals and impact of the scholarship.

As we increasingly rely on digital platforms and content to perform daily tasks, do business, and connect with others, a digital world that is accessible becomes even more imperative.

We’ve seen progress with accessibility in the physical world, thanks to the principles of universal design conceived by architects, product designers, and environmental design researchers. But as the distinctions between what we do online and offline are increasingly blurring, the web and web technologies have to catch up. 

Earth Day provided us with a humbling lesson this year that is worth sharing with our community. Without much forethought, we planned a photo slideshow to celebrate the “beautiful places that inspire our team to stay committed to sustainability.” And then we realized a glaring blind spot.

Cultivating and celebrating diversity is a top priority for Mangrove, and as we’ve evolved our business, we’ve worked to formalize our commitments to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

As a women-led business, our team is committed to supporting other women in the workforce and within our communities, but the reasons go far beyond old-fashioned feminism. Supporting other women is smart business that has positive ripple effects on our society and our planet.

Since 2019, Mangrove has proudly supported Oakland, CA-based nonprofit Hack the Hood, an organization that empowers communities of color to succeed in tech careers. We recently had the opportunity to meet Anina Tweed, their Director of Development, and asked her to share more about the organization’s current vision and programs.

As a purpose-driven company and B Corp, it’s important that we do everything we can to understand how we as individuals and as a company perpetuate systemic injustice.

World Trust is a leading organization in social justice. They work with clients to address systemic racism and unconscious bias, by creating workshops, films, and a robust curriculum that gives people the tools to learn and evolve. Mangrove Web has worked with them to create an online presence for their groundbreaking materials.